Vilu War Museum, Military museum in Vilu Village, Solomon Islands.
The Vilu War Museum is an outdoor museum in a village west of Honiara displaying aircraft wreckage, artillery pieces, and military equipment from World War II. The collection comes from both sides of the Pacific War and sits along the coastal road between White River and Bonegi Beach.
Fred Kona founded the museum in 1975 to preserve remains from the Guadalcanal Campaign of 1942-1943, a major battle in the Pacific War. This campaign was one of the first major Allied counteroffensives against Japanese forces during the conflict.
The museum grounds display memorial plaques honoring military units from different nations, creating connections between the Solomon Islands and visitors from around the world. This recognition of both allied and opposing soldiers reflects the island's shared history.
The museum is located on the sealed coastal road west of Honiara and is reached by following the road past White River and Bonegi Beach. Visitors should prepare for weather conditions, as the grounds can become muddy during rain.
The collection includes rare artifacts such as a Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, Japanese howitzers, and parts from an American OS2U Float Plane. These specific items come from different phases of the campaign and show the technical diversity of both sides.
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